Syria: Diplomatic Pressure Mounts

The United States Embassy in Syria said Tuesday that President Bashar Assad was not fooling anyone by blaming terrorists and thugs for the unrest in his country. In comments posted on the embassy’s Facebook page, Ambassador Robert Ford said it was clear that Mr. Assad’s government had no capacity for reform. Also on Tuesday, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, issued some of his strongest criticism yet of the Syrian government, saying Mr. Assad must take “bold and decisive measures before it’s too late.” Without calling for military action, Mr. Ban said it was time for the members of the United Nations to unite and take “coherent measures” with regard to Syria.